photo-documenting a chicago two-story brick cottage unoccupied since 1939

ill-prepared immediately comes to mind as i comb through the hundreds of images i took after spending nearly two hours in a small, 19th century chicago cottage that had not been lived in since 1939. sure, the house was looked after, but the homeowner(s) were more inclined to "patch" existing problems rather then make any alterations that would have disturbed the overpowering experience of navigating through a house stuck in time.

i was in awe of so many undisturbed characteristics contributing to this late 1930's interior "snapshot," including the largely intact and richly patterned linoleum floor coverings, allover crazed doors and molding, porcelain iron plumbing fixtures, wallpaper coverings, and piles of coal left untouched in the basement coal room. since the original configuration of the rooms or rather, floor plan, had not changed since it was constructed around 1885, i felt both comforted, yet equally claustrophobic - a vivid reminder of my experiences when i visited the "tenement museum" in new york. i spent more time just wandering around - seemingly aimlessly - filling me senses to maximize an experience i'm sure i will never have again.